Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a system using harmless microwaves and artificial intelligence (AI) software to detect even small, early-stage tumours within minutes. The new inexpensive technology could save lives and money by routinely screening women for breast cancer without exposure to radiation. The research, Breast Tumor Diagnosis using Machine Learning with Microwave Probes, was presented at a recent conference in Yemen. "Our top priorities were to make this detection-based modality fast and inexpensive," said Omar Ramahi, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Waterloo. "We have incredibly encouraging results and we believe that is because of its simplicity. " A prototype device -- the culmination of 15 years of work on the use of microwaves for tumour detection, not imaging -- cost less than $5,000 to build. It consists of a small sensor in an adjustable box about 15 centimetres square that is situated under an opening in a padded examination table. Patients lie face-down on the table so that one breast at a time is positioned in the box. The sensor emits microwaves that bounce back and are then processed by AI software on a laptop computer. By comparing the tissue composition of one breast with the other, the system is sensitive enough to detect anomalies less than one centimetre in diameter. Ramahi said a negative result could quickly rule out cancer, while a positive result would trigger referral for more expensive tests using mammography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). "If women were screened regularly with this, potential problems would be caught much sooner -- in the early stages of cancer," he said. "Our system can complement existing technology, reserving much more expensive options for when they're really needed. "We need a mixture, a combination of technologies. When our device sent up a red flag, it would mean more investigation was warranted. " In addition to reducing patient wait times and enabling earlier diagnosis, Ramahi said, the device would eliminate radiation exposure, improve patient comfort and work on particularly dense breasts, a problem with mammograms. It would also save health-care systems enormous amounts of money and, because of its low cost and ease of use, dramatically increase access to screening in the developing world. Researchers have applied for a patent and started a company, Wave Intelligence Inc. of Waterloo, to commercialize the system and hope to begin trials on patients within six months. Three rounds of preliminary testing included the use of artificial human torsos known as phantoms.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a system using harmless microwaves and artificial intelligence (AI) software to detect even small, early-stage tumours within minutes. The new inexpensive technology could save lives and money by routinely screening women for breast cancer without exposure to radiation. The research, Breast Tumor Diagnosis using Machine Learning with Microwave Probes, was presented at a recent conference in Yemen.

"Our top priorities were to make this detection-based modality fast and inexpensive," said Omar Ramahi, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Waterloo. "We have incredibly encouraging results and we believe that is because of its simplicity.

" A prototype device -- the culmination of 15 years of work on the use of microwaves for tumour detection, not imaging -- cost less than $5,000 to build.

It consists of a small sensor in an adjustable box about 15 centimetres square that is situated under an opening in a padded examination table. 

Patients lie face-down on the table so that one breast at a time is positioned in the box. The sensor emits microwaves that bounce back and are then processed by AI software on a laptop computer.
By comparing the tissue composition of one breast with the other, the system is sensitive enough to detect anomalies less than one centimetre in diameter.

Ramahi said a negative result could quickly rule out cancer, while a positive result would trigger referral for more expensive tests using mammography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

 "If women were screened regularly with this, potential problems would be caught much sooner -- in the early stages of cancer," he said. "Our system can complement existing technology, reserving much more expensive options for when they're really needed.

 "We need a mixture, a combination of technologies. When our device sent up a red flag, it would mean more investigation was warranted.

" In addition to reducing patient wait times and enabling earlier diagnosis, Ramahi said, the device would eliminate radiation exposure, improve patient comfort and work on particularly dense breasts, a problem with mammograms. 

It would also save health-care systems enormous amounts of money and, because of its low cost and ease of use, dramatically increase access to screening in the developing world. 

Researchers have applied for a patent and started a company, Wave Intelligence Inc. of Waterloo, to commercialize the system and hope to begin trials on patients within six months. Three rounds of preliminary testing included the use of artificial human torsos known as phantoms.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement 

New technique to improve melanoma detection, treatment

Combining three assays together, researchers have developed a new way to spot melanoma skin cancer cells circulating in the blood that could provide a new avenue for cancer diagnosis and therapies.

With a new approach to spot melanoma skin cancer cells circulating in the blood, the researchers raised detection rates to 72 per cent which is higher than using one test, said the study published in the British Journal of Cancer. The research has the potential to significantly improve the monitoring of cancer patients and guide future treatment.

“These preliminary findings are a first step towards a new way to stop melanoma from spreading around the body,” said lead researcher Elin Gray, Associate Professor at Edith Cowan University in Australia.

“Cancer spreads around the body when circulating tumour cells (CTCs) shed from the primary tumour and travel through the blood to form secondary tumours (metastases) in other organs.

“If we can find a way to reliably detect these cells, then we have a chance to stop melanoma in its tracks with a powerful diagnostic tool and perhaps opportunities for therapies in the future,” Gray said.

Until now melanoma circulating tumour cells have proved to be incredibly elusive, with detection rates wildly varying from 40 to 87 per cent. “We now understand that CTC detection cannot be resolved with a one-size-fits-all approach,” she said.

“There is a huge amount of variety in the shape and bioactivity of these CTCs and so they all look different and respond differently to assay tests,” Gray said.

The researcher explained that melanoma CTCs are hidden among thousands of other cells and matter in the blood. Armed with a better understanding of the complexity of the task, the researchers tried a multifaceted approach to detecting melanoma CTCs. “By combining three assays together, we raised detection rates to 72 per cent, which was a significantly and consistently higher result than using one test,” Gray said.

“We are confident this approach is a move towards the reliable detection of CTCs, but we now need to tweak the assay to include a better combination to capture the broadest range of CTCs,” she added.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement 

Breast cancer survivors may have lingering mental health effects

Breast cancer survivors may be more likely to experience anxiety, depression, sleep troubles and other mental health issues than women who have not been diagnosed with the disease, a research review suggests.

The study team examined data from 60 previously published studies of women who had survived breast cancer that focused on a variety of psychological issues as well as challenges with cognitive and sexual function one year or more after treatment.

"We already knew that women experience substantial psychological distress around the breast cancer diagnosis and during the main treatment period,” said the lead study author.

 "There is a need for greater awareness that anxiety, depression and cognitive and sexual dysfunctions are common after breast cancer, and that treatments are available,” said another Dr. 

“Early detection and treatment of any mental health issues that arise is likely to help women better cope with the disease and its aftermath.”

Newer screening, diagnosis and treatment options have transformed breast cancer from a fatal illness into a chronic illness for many women, leaving survivors to contend with a wide range of physical and mental health issues that may result from the tumors or from treatments to destroy the tumors.

Depending on the type of breast cancer and treatment women had, they may have an increased risk of blood clots, strokes, bone weakness, fractures, breathing difficulties and sexual health problems, previous research has found.

Distress, depression and anxiety may also be ongoing problems for breast cancer survivors, particularly if they were younger when they were diagnosed or had a history of mental illness prior to the cancer diagnosis, some prior studies also suggest.

The current analysis, takes a closer look at the potential for a broad range of mental health issues to surface after women get through breast cancer treatment.

For example, breast cancer survivors had up to twice the odds of developing anxiety as women who never had cancer in some of the smaller studies that examined this question.

Up to one in five breast cancer survivors had anxiety in studies that looked for this diagnosis in electronic health records, while as many as half of them had anxiety in studies that assessed anxiety by giving women questionnaires about anxiety symptoms, the current analysis found.

Breast cancer survivors also had up to twice the risk of depression. One in 10 breast survivors had depression based on medical records looking for this diagnosis, while the figure climbed to 30 percent in studies that questioned women about their symptoms.

From 20 percent to 40 percent of breast cancer survivors experienced neurocognitive impairments like challenges with memory, the analysis also found.

Breast cancer survivors were also up to two times more likely to experience sexual dysfunction than women who had not been diagnosed with tumors.

One limitation of the analysis is that researchers didn’t pool data across the smaller studies to assess the potential for mental cognitive, or sexual issues after a breast cancer diagnosis. The smaller studies in the analysis also used a wide variety of methods to measure outcomes like depression.

The included studies also focused mostly on older women, and younger breast cancer survivors tend to have higher rates of anxiety and depression than their older counterparts, said a Dr.

Breast cancer survivors may also find that their increased risk of mental health problems is most pronounced in the first years after their diagnosis.

“Several studies have shown that long term cancer survivors - more than five years from diagnosis - largely resemble the general population in terms of rates of mental health diagnoses,” Meyer added. “Therefore, breast cancer survivors should definitely remain hopeful that emotional symptoms will improve with more distance from their diagnosis.”

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                                             https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                       FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

A new technique that can help in screening and detection of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in some countries among women aged between 15 and 44 years. The necessity of proactive and periodic screening stems from the fact that cervical cancer is a preventable and curable condition if detected in the asymptomatic stages. Unfortunately,  there continues to be a major gap in the awareness levels in women regarding screening, especially while still asymptomatic. This results in delayed diagnosis, making it critical to understand the advantages of screening and opting for appropriate testing methods. BD SurePath Direct to Slide (DTS), is a unique Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) test intended to be used for screening and detection of cervical cancer, pre-cancerous lesions, atypical cells and all other cytological categories. It offers the availability of residual sample for conducting important additional follow-up tests without the need for repeat sampling.

According to a specialist, cervical cancer can be prevented by screening women systematically through organized population-based programmes. She further added, “Given that cervical cancer ranks as the 2nd most frequent cancer among women in India, it is a time that screening should become a part of their routine health check-up. Women undergoing screening should opt for LBC since it has demonstrated the ability to detect abnormal cells at the initial stages of pre-cancer thus, preventing cervical cancer from progressing.” Traditionally, conventional pap smear, a simple and quick test has been the mainstay of cervical cancer screening. However, this method has limitations in preparation technique and its ability to detect every abnormality, which makes it important to move towards a more efficient technique.

The Dr. said, “Liquid-based cytology significantly increases the detection rate of cervical cancer compared to conventional PAP even at initial stages. Access to LBC has been limited to highly sophisticated lab settings so far. With the launch of DTS, access to quality cervical cancer screening will increase and we recommend an early diagnosis through screening by LBC to significantly enhance the chances of timely and successful treatment.” “Early detection of cervical cancer and its malignant precursors is imperative for survival. In India where women’s health is a priority, we are glad that BD SurePath DTS will be able to enhance the standard of patient care, representing the next milestone in cervical cancer screening,” said a researcher.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                   PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                               https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/   

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                    https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                              

FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                https://my crochet creations.blogspot.com/

 

Ultrasound, blood test together may boost liver cancer detection

Earlier detection is important to improving survival of patients with liver cancer, and combining an ultrasound imaging with a blood test can help achieve that, say researchers.

Using ultrasound and a blood test for high alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels together improves detection of early-stage liver cancer significantly, said the study published in a journal .

AFP is a plasma protein that is produced in abundance by the liver cells in the foetus. In adults, AFP levels are normally low, but liver cancer can cause AFP levels to rise.

"Liver cancer screening in patients with chronic liver disease has traditionally been performed using an abdominal ultrasound. While ultrasound is readily available and noninvasive, it misses many cancers when they are small," said an associate professor.

Risk factors for liver cancer -- also known as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) -- include hepatitis C infection, chronic heavy alcohol consumption, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease related to diabetes and obesity.

Symptoms can include upper abdominal pain or swelling, loss of weight or appetite, white chalky stools, and general fatigue, the researchers said.

"Our study found that adding the blood biomarker alpha fetoprotein increased detection of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma from 45 per cent with ultrasound alone to 63 per cent using the two tests in combination," a researcher. said. 

Liver cancer screening guidelines for patients with cirrhosis vary, with some guidelines calling for just imaging and other guidelines calling for both imaging and AFP measurement.

"Our results support a change in clinical practice and the routine use of ultrasound and biomarkers together for liver cancer screening," a researcher said. 

The results were based on a meta-analysis of 32 previous studies. Meta-analysis refers to a technique of combining the results of multiple scientific studies.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.    

PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-                      
HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                     

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS
HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Having brain scans for breakthrough in early detection of autism

With a shift in diagnostic criteria raising the number of children placed on the autism spectrum—and with families and professionals adjusting their approach to conceptualizing the disorder—researchers believe there may be promise in conducting brain scans to enable earlier detection of the condition. 

The multi-site Infant Brain Imaging Study, seeks to determine the predictive ability of functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI) as a means of identifying brain activity patterns in six-month-old children who may be at risk to develop autism by two years of age. 
 
“2017 has been a breakthrough year for decades of research aimed at detecting the earliest changes in the brain that are associated with autism,” said a researcher who leads the site at the  Autism Research. “This current study reveals the foundational patterns of brain function at age 6 months, which set in motion developmental processes that yield behavioral symptoms of autism by age 24 months. This is an astounding observation that could fundamentally change clinical practice.”

Current estimates say autism affects roughly 1 out 68 children in a country, a rate that has climbed partly because fewer children are diagnosed with an intellectual disability. The neurodevelopmental disorder is about five times more likely to affect boys than girls, while younger siblings of those with autism have an approximately 7 percent higher chance of a diagnosis, according to an influential 2013 study. 

“Previous findings suggest that brain-related changes occur in autism before behavioral symptoms emerge,” said the director of the study. “If future studies confirm these results, detecting brain differences may enable physicians to diagnose and treat autism earlier than they do today.”

Researchers focused on the brain's functional connectivity, examining how different regions work together during activity and rest. 

With fcMRI, the research team scanned the brains of 59 high-risk six-month-olds—younger siblings of kids with autism—while they slept under natural conditions. Machine learning technology designed to parse through neuroimaging results was then used to make predictions about the children who would or would not develop autism. 


By the age of two, 11 out of the 59 children in the study had been diagnosed with autism. The research team successfully predicted that nine of those children would develop autism and correctly identified all of the infants who would not. A second, computer-based analysis to test these results against other cases predicted diagnoses for groups of 10 infants at an accuracy rate of 93 percent.

In total, researchers found 974 functional connections in the brains of 6-month-olds that were associated with autism-related behaviors, suggesting brain scans could be an accurate way to predict autism in high-risk infants. 

The full study, published in a medical journal.

 this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations 
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement